Sarasota's Rosemary District poised for growth

Published: Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at 2:41 p.m.

SARASOTA - Residents and business owners hope a new zoning overlay planned for the city's Rosemary District will help spur redevelopment in an area where new construction has been largely absent for the past two decades.

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With ample land available and the district in close proximity to core downtown amenities, industry experts say the Rosemary area is ripe for a transformation through increased residential density granted by the city.

Already, two projects have been proposed that would add nearly 500 apartments, some new retail space and a performing arts theater to the area.

Similar overlay districts have been tried before in Southwest Florida — including in downtown Sarasota — with varying degrees of success. But with a surging interest to build in Rosemary, officials are confident the density boost will help make developments there more economically viable.

“This is a catalyst,” said Ryan Chapdelain, Sarasota's chief planner. “That area has been starving for (redevelopment for) some time, and now that the market is recovering, hopefully this will get some other projects off the sidelines.”

The city's Rosemary overlay district would increase residential density from 25 units per acre up to 75 units per acre. Throughout downtown, by comparison, developers are allowed to build up to 50 units per acre under zoning rules.

A comprehensive plan change is awaiting state review. If approved, the overlay district could take effect by the end of this year.

In some places, the Rosemary district — north of Fruitville Road and extending north to Newtown — contains blighted warehouses that are tagged with graffiti and have windows boarded up with plywood.

Fenced lots collect exotic weeds and rusty cars, and storefronts that have been empty for years appear to be deteriorating. The area also has been plagued with higher crime rates than many other parts of the city.

But elsewhere in the district, trendy merchants have opened in restored old buildings, repair shops draw business and newer condos — leftover from the last real estate boom — brighten corners.

Some sidewalks contain joggers. Others, homeless people.

Developers have long pointed to a lack of residences as a primary reason more business hasn't taken root in Rosemary.

They believe the Rosemary District could be the ideal place to take advantage of the region's growing shortage of affordable apartments with new rentals. In the past, apartments haven't made economic sense for investors there because of the density restrictions.

“The Rosemary district has always been a prime place for development, but for economic reasons, developers that looked at the vacant properties there couldn't get the numbers to work,” said Michael Bush, owner of the Home Resource furniture store and president of a Rosemary business group.

“Changing the density appears to be the tipping point, and we believe it will spill over.”Subhead here and herey

The idea for an overlay district in Rosemary came about after a trio of developments were proposed.

The grandest among them is being planned by prolific area developer Mark Kauffman, who co-developed the Hollywood 20/Main Plaza downtown along with the Courthouse Centre complex and, most recently, the building occupied by P.F. Chang's China Bistro on Osprey Avenue in Sarasota.

Kauffman wants to build a $20 million, mix-used project on the former Community Garden property on Boulevard of the Arts, between Lemon and Central avenues.

Plans call for a 3,410-square-foot dance studio, nearly 30,000 square feet of retail and office space, and 70 apartments in several five-story buildings.

Kauffman hopes to break ground on the project in the summer of 2015.

Across the street, he's also planning a four-story theater and auditorium.

“There are very few apartments in the downtown area,” Kauffman said. “This will be for the teachers and the people who work for the county — folks like that.”

Kauffman has negotiated to purchase the former garden property and a nearby parking garage from the city for $1.05 million. He's still awaiting city approvals for the developments.

Nearby, a group led by Bruce Weiner has proposed building as many as 400 apartments if the overlay district is adopted.

Rosalyne Holdings LLC paid $4.5 million last year for a 6.5-acre tract at Cocoanut Avenue near 10th Street. The property is zoned for up to 163 rental apartments.

Its “Cityside” project would feature market-discounted units measuring 700 square feet to 1,200 square feet, to meet a growing demand among young professionals who wish to live near downtown.

A third development, proposed by a group of Largo businessmen, would contain 32 townhomes at Cocoanut Avenue and Boulevard of the Arts.

“I think there's going to be a boom there,” Kauffman said of Rosemary. “The district is so close to downtown, and so close to city amenities, it's going to explode.”Subhead goes here and herey

The plans to revamp Rosemary come amid a rising real estate market, which has pushed demand for condos and rental apartments to near decade highs.

That's been especially true in Sarasota's urban core, where nearly two dozen projects have been proposed. If all are built, they would add nearly 1,500 residences downtown, city records show.

But overlay proponents say the Rosemary District's time has come, and that the area's proximity to colleges and growing businesses means it could fill a niche for affordable housing that downtown has lacked.

“We need density, and Rosemary has been talked about for many years as the place that density should occur,” said Norman Gollub, Sarasota's downtown economic development coordinator. “Now that Main Street is built out, it only makes sense to look north.”

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - Residents and business owners hope a new zoning overlay planned for the city's Rosemary District will help spur redevelopment in an area where new construction has been largely absent for the past two decades.</p><p>With ample land available and the district in close proximity to core downtown amenities, industry experts say the Rosemary area is ripe for a transformation through increased residential density granted by the city.</p><p>Already, two projects have been proposed that would add nearly 500 apartments, some new retail space and a performing arts theater to the area.</p><p>Similar overlay districts have been tried before in Southwest Florida — including in downtown Sarasota — with varying degrees of success. But with a surging interest to build in Rosemary, officials are confident the density boost will help make developments there more economically viable.</p><p>“This is a catalyst,” said Ryan Chapdelain, Sarasota's chief planner. “That area has been starving for (redevelopment for) some time, and now that the market is recovering, hopefully this will get some other projects off the sidelines.”</p><p>The city's Rosemary overlay district would increase residential density from 25 units per acre up to 75 units per acre. Throughout downtown, by comparison, developers are allowed to build up to 50 units per acre under zoning rules.</p><p>A comprehensive plan change is awaiting state review. If approved, the overlay district could take effect by the end of this year.</p><p>In some places, the Rosemary district — north of Fruitville Road and extending north to Newtown — contains blighted warehouses that are tagged with graffiti and have windows boarded up with plywood.</p><p>Fenced lots collect exotic weeds and rusty cars, and storefronts that have been empty for years appear to be deteriorating. The area also has been plagued with higher crime rates than many other parts of the city.</p><p>But elsewhere in the district, trendy merchants have opened in restored old buildings, repair shops draw business and newer condos — leftover from the last real estate boom — brighten corners.</p><p>Some sidewalks contain joggers. Others, homeless people.</p><p>Developers have long pointed to a lack of residences as a primary reason more business hasn't taken root in Rosemary.</p><p>They believe the Rosemary District could be the ideal place to take advantage of the region's growing shortage of affordable apartments with new rentals. In the past, apartments haven't made economic sense for investors there because of the density restrictions.</p><p>“The Rosemary district has always been a prime place for development, but for economic reasons, developers that looked at the vacant properties there couldn't get the numbers to work,” said Michael Bush, owner of the Home Resource furniture store and president of a Rosemary business group.</p><p>“Changing the density appears to be the tipping point, and we believe it will spill over.”Subhead here and herey</p><p>The idea for an overlay district in Rosemary came about after a trio of developments were proposed.</p><p>The grandest among them is being planned by prolific area developer Mark Kauffman, who co-developed the Hollywood 20/Main Plaza downtown along with the Courthouse Centre complex and, most recently, the building occupied by P.F. Chang's China Bistro on Osprey Avenue in Sarasota.</p><p>Kauffman wants to build a $20 million, mix-used project on the former Community Garden property on Boulevard of the Arts, between Lemon and Central avenues.</p><p>Plans call for a 3,410-square-foot dance studio, nearly 30,000 square feet of retail and office space, and 70 apartments in several five-story buildings.</p><p>Kauffman hopes to break ground on the project in the summer of 2015.</p><p>Across the street, he's also planning a four-story theater and auditorium.</p><p>“There are very few apartments in the downtown area,” Kauffman said. “This will be for the teachers and the people who work for the county — folks like that.”</p><p>Kauffman has negotiated to purchase the former garden property and a nearby parking garage from the city for $1.05 million. He's still awaiting city approvals for the developments.</p><p>Nearby, a group led by Bruce Weiner has proposed building as many as 400 apartments if the overlay district is adopted.</p><p>Rosalyne Holdings LLC paid $4.5 million last year for a 6.5-acre tract at Cocoanut Avenue near 10th Street. The property is zoned for up to 163 rental apartments.</p><p>Its “Cityside” project would feature market-discounted units measuring 700 square feet to 1,200 square feet, to meet a growing demand among young professionals who wish to live near downtown.</p><p>A third development, proposed by a group of Largo businessmen, would contain 32 townhomes at Cocoanut Avenue and Boulevard of the Arts.</p><p>“I think there's going to be a boom there,” Kauffman said of Rosemary. “The district is so close to downtown, and so close to city amenities, it's going to explode.”Subhead goes here and herey</p><p>The plans to revamp Rosemary come amid a rising real estate market, which has pushed demand for condos and rental apartments to near decade highs.</p><p>That's been especially true in Sarasota's urban core, where nearly two dozen projects have been proposed. If all are built, they would add nearly 1,500 residences downtown, city records show.</p><p>But overlay proponents say the Rosemary District's time has come, and that the area's proximity to colleges and growing businesses means it could fill a niche for affordable housing that downtown has lacked.</p><p>“We need density, and Rosemary has been talked about for many years as the place that density should occur,” said Norman Gollub, Sarasota's downtown economic development coordinator. “Now that Main Street is built out, it only makes sense to look north.”</p>